Winston Churchill said, “if you are going through hell, keep going.” After 239 PGA starts, William Carl “Bud” Cauley III, did keep going-even after he suffered severe injuries in a single-car accident on June 1, 2018, in Dublin, Ohio.

The crash left Cauley with catastrophic, life-threatening injuries: six broken ribs, a punctured and collapsed right lung, a fractured/broken left leg, and a concussion.

Endeavor to persevere- the recovery process was grueling. Cauley required extensive surgery, and complications regarding poor incision healing resulting in multiple subsequent operations. The extent of the damage kept him away from competitive golf for more than three years.

He regained his PGA Tour card at The Players Championship in 2025.

Bud Cauley was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, and raised in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. He grew up playing golf at public clubs in Jacksonville and was homeschooled by his parents so he could focus on his junior golf training.

As a Junior golfer, Cauley was ranked top five nationally and top fifteen in the world. He played for the University of Alabama from 2008 to 2011. While he was a three-time All-American, he turned professional before the Crimson Tide won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2013 and 2014.

As the 2026 RBC Canadian Open winner, Bud Cauley, received $1,764,000 winner’s share from the $9.8 million purse. He also earned a two-year PGA Tour exemption, plus invites to the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the remaining 2026 PGA Signature events.

Cauley made birdies on 11, 12, 13, and the 15^th holes on the back nine Sunday, including a chip in on the 12^th hole to shoot sixty-five and win by two shots with a final score of -17 over a fast-closing Matt Fitzpatrick.

Cauley’s tee shot on the 16^th hole was pushed right and would have gone out of bounds but instead bounced back into the fairway after hitting a golf cart. It takes a bit of luck to win on the PGA Tour.

Inevitably, real achievement requires sustained effort. Congratulations Bud Cauley for the win and for inspiration.

The 126^th United States Open Championship starts this Thursday (June 18-21) at historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.

Scottie Scheffler enters the 2026 U.S. Open as the heavy betting favorite at +550, followed closely by Rory McIlroy (+1000) and Jon Rahm (+1200).

Scheffler has a chance to win the career Grand Slam if he wins the U.S. Open this week. Sunday’s final round will be played on his 30th birthday.

Here is a look at the top contenders and their current outright odds to win the 2026 U.S. Open:

• Scottie Scheffler: +550
• Rory McIlroy: +1000
• Jon Rahm: +1200
• Cameron Young: +1800
• Bryson DeChambeau: +2000
• Ludvig Åberg: +2000
• Xander Schauffele: +2000
• Tommy Fleetwood: +2200
• Matt Fitzpatrick: +2500
• Brooks Koepka: +2500

Note: Odds are subject to change as the tournament approaches. To compare live lines across major sportsbooks or place wagers, check the DraftKings Sportsbook or FanDuel Sportsbook platforms.

Here is a swing tip from the 2025 U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun:

JJ Spaun’s ultimate golf swing key is focusing on connection and rotation to produce a consistent, repeatable fade.

His go-to swing tips include:

• “Turn Left” for a Stock Fade: Spaun’s primary swing thought is to turn and rotate left through the ball. He believes that if he rotates his body left, the clubface remains stable, allowing the ball to slide right for a controlled cut instead of an over-drawn hook.
• Armpit & Chest Connection: To keep the clubface square, Spaun focuses on keeping his upper arms “glued” to his rib cage and resting on his pecs throughout the swing. He recommends practicing with a towel under your arms to ensure this connection doesn’t break down.

Enjoy the 126^th U.S. Open this week. I am off to Scotland and will be reporting on the U.S. Open next Tuesday from the land of the Scots. I am playing Kingsbarns golf links on the dramatic coastline six miles east of St. Andrews and will let you know how it goes. “Slàinte mhath” (pronounced slawn-ja-va), which means “good health”.

Enjoy your golf.

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